442nd largest plant in Minnesota · 12726th nationally
Hoot Lake is a hydroelectric power plant in Minnesota with a nameplate capacity of 1.0 MW. It generates roughly 1.8k MWh per year — enough to power about 172 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 21% reflects intermittent or peaking operation.
| Plant Name | Hoot Lake |
|---|---|
| Operator | Otter Tail Power Co |
| City | Fergus Falls |
| County | Otter Tail County |
| State | Minnesota |
| ZIP | 56537 |
| Coordinates | 46.29064, -96.04325 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Conventional Steam Coal | Subbituminous Coal | 75.0 MW | Retired | 1964 |
| 2 | Conventional Steam Coal | Subbituminous Coal | 54.4 MW | Retired | 1959 |
| 1 | Conventional Steam Coal | Subbituminous Coal | 7.5 MW | Retired | 1948 |
| H1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 1.0 MW | Operating | 1914 |
| D1 | Petroleum Liquids | Distillate Oil | 0.2 MW | Retired | 1967 |
| D2 | Petroleum Liquids | Distillate Oil | 0.1 MW | Retired | 1967 |
| NERC Region | MRO |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Midcontinent Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc.. |
Hydroelectric plants spin turbines using falling or flowing water — typically from a dam-impounded reservoir. They are dispatchable, long-lived, and emission-free at the point of generation, though large reservoirs can disrupt rivers and ecosystems and methane can be released from flooded vegetation.